January 01, 2014

A Poem for the New Year - Barbara Jean Hicks

I love this poem about the aftermath of the holidays. Maybe we make resolutions at New Year’s in response to our Christmas regrets? (Oh, the breathless hope of new beginnings!)

WELL, SO THAT IS THAT

Well, so that is that.Now we must dismantle the tree,Putting the decorations backinto their cardboard boxes—Some have got broken—and carrying them up to the attic.The holly and mistletoe must be taken down and burnt,And the children got ready for school. There are enoughLeft-overs to do, warmed up, for the rest of the week—Not that we have much appetite,having drunk such a lot,Stayed up so late, attempted—quite unsuccessfully—To love all our relatives, and in generalGrossly overestimated our powers. Once againAs in previous years we have seen the actual Vision and failedTo do more than to entertain it as an agreeablePossibility, once again we have sent Him awayBegging though to remain His disobedient servant,The promising child who cannot keep His word for long.

Comments

Yes, Virginia, there IS hope for a brighter tomorrow. At least I sure the heck hope so! :-) Auden's poem is so perfect for the after-the-holidays let-down--which I have not experienced yet! Fingers crossed...

Thank you Barbara, for summing up the exact feelings of what many of us our experiencing after the long hussle and bussel of the Holidays, kids bored and crying for adventure and parents are broke with lost hope of having any peace of mind for the next week till school begins...HAllelujah!Never thought I would say that about my grandchildren...:)Yet to come is the New Year which we are all hoping for a brighter tomorrow.